Trolley-pole safety appliance for electric trams and the like



Mar. 13, 1923. l 1,448,350.

` P. DE IRELAND. TROLLEY POLE SAFETY APPLIANCEFOR ELECTRIC TEAMS AND THE LIKE.

FILED APR. 9 1921. 4 SHEETS-SHEET l Mar. 13, 1923. 1,448,350. y P. M. DE c. IRELAND.

TROLLEY POLE SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR ELECTRIC TRAMS AND THE LIKE.. FILED APR. 911921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Zia/H707 Mar. 13, 1923.l 1,448,350y

- P. M. DE c. IRELAND.

TROLLEY POLE SAFETY PPLIANCE FOR ELECTRIC TRAMS AND THE LIKE.I

FILED APR. 9. v1921.- 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Mar. 13,' 1923. 1,448,350.

P. M. DE C. IRELAND.

TROLLEY POLE SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR ELECTRIC TRAMS AND lTHE LIKE. 4

FILED APH. 9| 192|. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- 4/ iff JHM 4f w@ 95' 30 in charge. i The pole is then lowered t'o a horizontal.l

Patented Mar. 13, 19523.

than.

, PERCY MARKHAM nn connor finer-AND, or HEIDELBERG, vc'ronm, Aus'rnnrra..

TROLLEY-POLE SAFETY arrrrancn ron ELECTRIC rams inviav THE LIKE.

Application filed April 9, 1921. Serial No. 59,946.

To all whomy t ymay concern.' i f y Be it known. thatl7 Pnlnor MARKHAM DE COURCY InnLANlna British subject, residing at Amberley, Plenty Roach Heidelbergin the State of Victoria, Commonwealth `of Australia, have invented new and useful Trolley-Pole Safety Appliances for Electric vTrams and the like, of which the Vfollowing is a specification. 10v This invention relates to a trolley pole safety appliance 'for electric trams and the like and which is designed to prevent the spring controlled trolley pole from continuing to be kept in an upright or in 'such a position that it will foul ,the overhead wire l system7 after the trolley wheel has accidentally broken away or become disengaged from the trolley wire.

Theconstruction of the appliance is such that when the trolley wheel leaves its over head wire, means'are provided which enable the trolley pole and an oscillating pivoted frame to which it is connected, to autoinatically free itself vfrom the action or inluence of a coiled spring or springs by the rotation or release ot a rocking trame and thus the pole descends beneath the trolley wire where it is in a position' to be conveniently lowered by the conductorv or person position in order to re-set the rocking frame and to bringthe pole again under the induence of the coiled spring or springs, to enable the trolley wheel to engage the 4trolley wire. L. -v

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals and letters denote corresponding parts in the specifica- 40 tion f i Fig. 1 `is a side elevationfof the preterre 'form of the appliance and l Fig.l 2 represents a plan of Fig. 1. Y Fig.. y3 shows the appliance ofFig. 1 in elevation when the Atrolley `v pole .is being j pulled down ytore-set the ,rocking frame.

Figs. l and 5 are elevation and plan views respectively of a. modified'form oit' the appliance, and i v F'g. 6 is :a part sectional view of `nioditieid iior'm of the appliance.

Ithe

vehicle.

Figs. 7 .and 8 illustrate plan` an alternajtive form ofthe appliance whereintension springs are employed, vand v v Figs. 9 and 10 representin elevationfand 55 plana modilied forni of the appliance employing tension springs. f In the construction shown in Figs. 1, ,2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings, thel numeral 1 representsa cylindrical member 60 adapted to rotate about-its vertical axis or fixed pin la'andformed witheither' areetangu'lar or circular lbase or bed plate 1b which is bolted to 'the roof oitv the car or 5 Y 6 The rotatable member lsupports'an oscillating trolley pole frame 2, the side cheeks of which receivefthejends of a spindle 3 working in integral ktransversebearings 1J of the member 1, the 'frame 2 thus beingable 70 to oscillate or swing forwards and rearwards about each side of 'themember 1J :A rigidlywv` y mounted cross shaftrmay ybe employed 1instead of the 1 rotatable spindle "3 in which case the pole frame Awould be loosely mountl ed on said shaft a'n'd freeyto rotate about same.' rIlhe pole frame yis provided with the'= usual cover and socketplate's 51 which when bolted together support the lower-end of lthe trolley pole 52 which carriesv the trolley 80 `wheel 53 to engage the overhead trolley wire (not shown). f i y ,r

The member 1 is cast withna socket 15 which supports the rear end yof la horizon-A tally projecting guide rod 23 receiving a 85 concentrically mounted coiled spring. 24 `and a slidably mounted collar or sleeve 14 whichf lis adapted to strike or bear against nuts 24a mounted on the screw threaded` front portion 23a of the said rod .by the recoil of the 90 lguide rod spring Awhen the trolley lwheel breaks away from the overhead wire.' The side cheeks of the said frame v2 arev each cast with an outer holed llug orLlshaped hearingT 2b for the reception oli-,cross pins 2 95 each of which pass intol the cheeks 'of the pole trame and -pivotally lsupport the rear-f' apertured ends of a pair ot draw bars 16. The front threaded portions of the draw bars l are slidably supported in the bearings or side`lugs`20-b formed integral with the Varms Of a- Ushapfed rocking frame; 2O andere threaded to receive two pairs of nuts 16a and 18 respectively, the rear pair 16a being positioned some little distance at the back of the bearing 20h leaving a space or clearance 17.

The rocking or releasing frame 2O consists -of a U-shaped member formed with two arms and having an integral bridging piece 21 which straddles the spring guide sleeve 14. The bridging piece 21 is holed to take two vertical adjustable screws 22 which are adapted to limit the forward movement of the rocking frame by bearing on the upper surface of the sleeve 14. In order that it can pivot about its aXis the side arms of the frame are holed to receive pins 19 which are screwed into integral lugs 14a of the slidable slee-ve 14.

The side cheeks of the oscillating frame 2 project upwardly and obliquely forming two integral extension arms 2a, the upper extremities of the latter being apertured for the reception of a transverse slidably mounted member or cross bar 4 provided with outer eyes to form guides for two longitudinally disposed levers 7, the lower ends of which latter terminate in hollow bosses or eyes 7l to receive threaded bolts or pins 7n which take into two internally threaded side lugs 20a of the rocking frame 20.

The levers 7 are also connected kby a bridging strap orl bar 18 of rectangular cross section and which is rigidly secured to the levers by nuts 13a.

A V'T-piece 5 is pivotally and centrally mounted on the member 4 .its free end having a portion of its under surface cut away to leave a vertical face or stop 6 which adapted to be engaged by the cross bar 13.

The said T-piece 5 also has a depending stop 5a which is adapted to contact against the vertical face 26" of a slotted L-shapefl catch or plate 26, when the pole frame and cross piece oscillate rearwards. The slot 26a is formed in the plate to receive a set screw 27 which takes into an internally threaded vertical lug 27"L castintegral with the guide rod socket 15. By these means the l -plate can be slidably adjusted at any desired position relatively to the slidable member 4.`

Each upper or rear half of the levers 7 is threaded and takes a nut 12 which is positioned flush up against the front face of themember 4 so that when the trolley wheel 53 leaves the trolley wire the nut limits the forward movement of said member 4. The

. threaded portion of the lever 7 also receives `another nut llpositioned directly up against vthe rear apertured base 8a of a tubular casagainst the rear face of the nut 12.

' Ihe sleeve 10 takes a coiled spring 9 which is adapted when compressed to its fullest extent to recede within and be suitably,

housed in the tubular easing as shown in Fig. 3.

When the trolley wheel .53 is in engagement with the trolley wire and the appliance is in its normal working condition the pole 52 is kept at a tension by the influence of the recoiling spring 24, the disposition of the parts when in such position being shown in Figs. l and 2.

lf the trolley wheel, accidentally or other wise, breaks away from the trolley wire, the tro-lley pole 52 is jerked upwards with considerable force, and the frame 2 swings or oscillates forward causing the vmember 4, through the medium. of the nuts 12, to com- `municate the motion of the pole frame to the levers 7 which are thrust downwards and bearing on the arms of theU-shaped rocking -frame 2O tilt or rock the latterA about its pivot pins 19 into an approximately vertical position thus temporarilydisconnecting the draw bars, levers, the pole and its frame i from the influence of the spring 24.

After the forward rotation of the rocking frame 20, the pole frame 2 swings back until the arms 2a assume an approximately vertical position, governed by the .gradual coinpression of the springsl) and further back until the stop 6 of the pivoted T-piece 5 engages the bridging strap 13 and thus the pole 'which has fallen beneath the trolley wire is steadied or prevented from vibrating.

The pole can now be conveniently pulled down to a horizontal position in order to re-v`-r set the rocking frame 20 and so bring' the slidablc guide rod sleeve 14, the tilting levers 7, the draw bars 16 and the pole frame '2 under the influence of the spring 24 to give lthe necessary tension to the pole and enable its trolley wheel '53 to re-engage the trolley wire. y

The pole 52 is provided with the usual pull cord (not shown) and which, when drawn down, lowers the pole to a horizontal position during which operation the front and lower ends4 of the draw bars and levers describe arcs bearing on the upper and lower portions respectively of the rocking frame, and rotate same counter clockwise vuntil it assumes a horizontal position.

0n releasing the cord the recoiling action of the spring 24 forces the sleeve 14 towards the guide rod nuts 24a and the pole frame 2 swings forward toits normal and working position, the stop 2Gb when the poleis in a horizontal position, having contacted with the depending stop 5"i tilts or raises ythe T-piece and its stop 6 is thus disengaged from the bridging strap 13 enabling the trolley wheel to' again engage the overhead wire.

When the trolley wire is engaged by the trolley wheel the rocking frame cannotac- `cidentally pivot forwards or be released ln a modiedforin of the appliance as il-` lustrated in Figs. 4, and 6, two arms or upriglits 28 are employed in lieu oi thefpole frame extensions 2a, the `arms 28 being loosely mounted on the sliaiit 3 which also support the side'cheeks ot the pole Jfraine 2. 29 is a cross bar which passes through the upper eyes of' and is supported -by the arms 28 and li'as end'hole's for the reception of the levers 7 which are held rigidly to saine by nuts 36 and 37, the lower threaded ends of saidl leversbeing pivotally connected to the rocking trame 2O as hereinbetore described, but said levers in this construction are not provided with a sleeve and coiled spring. The cross bar is provided with rings vor collars 31a and the arms 28 carry a. vcross strap 30 which, when the pole frame o'scillates rearwards, is engaged by the stop 6 of thel pivoted T-piec'e. 5 which latter is secured on a cross pin 33 freely mounted in the integral bearing '32 of the pole frame 2.

The inner tacesot' the 'frame 2 are provided with integral projecting' studs 35 which are adapted to contact against the back edges of the arms28 and torce saine forwards causing the levers 7 to tilt or rotate the rocking frame and release saine .trom the influence ot thev vspring 24 when the trolley leaves the wire and the pole rises or swings forwards. 'i

The pole traine is also `formed 'with' two legs or members having short inwardly projecting endsv 34 which are adapted to beark against the front edges of the arm 28 to reset the rocking traine when the ypole is pulled down to a horizontal position.

The principle underlying this invention and which briefly consists of the automatic release of the pole traine and trolley pole from the action of the spring when the trolley wheel leaves its wire is shown applied to a form of the appliance wherein two tension springs 43 are employed. In this construction the central guide rod spring 24 and `guide iod 23 are dispensed with and 'the two coiled springs 43 are employed positioned parallel to7 and on the inside of, two compression rods 38, the rearward movement of said connecting rods being limited by' the recoil of the springs 43 and their forward travel also regulated or limited by the nuts 40 on their threaded front portions 4l, these nuts acting as stops which butt up against the Jfront apertured lugsor eyes 39a of pins 39 which are rotatably secured in openings in the side edges of the rocking trame 42 by split pins 42a which bearA against their grooved or concaved ends Another pair ot transversely mountedy pins 39 are similarly secured in the lateral extensions 50 of the pole traine 2. The front and rear pairs ot pins 39 receive the front and rear ends y43a respectively oi the sprir'igs."I

43. the rear pair liavingheads 39b which hold the eyes 38EL of the rods 38 securely in` rods to freely position and enable the said pivot about the pins.

The rotatablel memberl is provided with' an integral longitudinally disposed tube or rod 46 which is adapted to be slidably atljustled in a sleeve 47 by a 's'et screw Aor threaded loo-lt 48 whichpassesthrough the front. tace of thefsleeve 47'., and bears againstv tlie front end ot' the rod- 46. and is secured in position `loy a nut 49.` The said tube or bar 4G has ridges-or lreys` iormed on its sui-tace to ltake into similar longitudinal recesses oi' lreyways in the sleeve 47 and thus prevent these parts tromrotating or turning. Ali desired the bar 46 can be made .rectangular in cross section and adapted to take into a sleeve of similar cross' section. .i The said sleeve 47 is pro-vided with an integral upper? transverse bearing 45 .extending on both sides of the saine and which bearing receives.

.a pin 44 lprovidedl with end nuts 44a and about which pin the trame 20 vis 'lree'to rotate or tilt whenthe levers 7 'are forced downi'vards and which latter, in this'A vform of construction, are positioned on the inside oi the compression rods 38. The telescopic tube 46 and sleeve 47are designed to enable the tension or the springs 43 to be adjusted, f

either to "be further compressed or relaxed as the case may be.

The lever's 7 and 'as those liereinbefiore described and shown in Figs. l and 2 and aieaconnected bythe bridging'strap 13. the crosspiece 4 with the pivo-ted "l`piece 5 and-depending stop and which latter adapted to'beuengaged by the 'tace 26hot tlieL-plate 26. the tunetions ot all ot which 'parts 'have been here-f;

inbetore described. y y

The appliance as illustrated yin Figs. yTand 8 is shownin its normal or working condi-- tion, .the-trolley wheel being in engagement with the trolley wire .(not shown) and is kept into such engagement bythe tension ot the springs tter thetrolley wheelhas their parts are the same.r

accidentally disengaged itself v@from theA trolley wire.; the pole rises, and thepole frame swings forward and through the medium ot the cross piece 4 which .being Aintegral with the pole tram/e arms describes an arc similar to that ofthe pole traineand bears against the nut 12a/nd thus the pole iframe, cross piece and the levers move as one piece and the levers thus actuated tilt or turn the rocking frame about its pin or axis 45. The nuts limit the forward slidable movement ot the compression rods 38 and whic nuts act stops and performr the same 'tunetion as the nuts 24a on the central guide rod 23, and enable the rocking trame to pivot l about its hinge pin '-15 when the nuts 40 bear against the eye lugs 39a and in which position the springs i3 become inoperative and thus the pole trame is released Jfrom their influence or tension and is tree to oscillate or pivot rearwards.

It desired, more than one pair of springs can be employed such as a pair on each side of and between the connecting rods and levers. l

The appliance illustrated in Figs. 9 and lO is practically the same as that just described except that the pole trame and independent arms. 28 illustrated in Figs ll, 5 and 6 are employed in conjunction with the tension springs 43. The action of the said appliance is similar in all respects to that herein described and the rocking frame 20 is re-set or re-adjusted in exactly the same manner as that hereinbefore described and as illustrated in Figs. l, 5, 6, .7 and 8 ot the accompanying drawings.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. A trolley pole safety appliance for electric trams and the like, consisting in combination with a trolley pole, of an upright rotatable member, an integral socket piece, a guide rod supported by said socket piece, a coiled spring,r sleeve and nuts mounted on said guide rod, a rocking trame pivoted to and adapted to partially rotate about said sleeve, an upper bridge tormed integra-l with said rocking trame. and provided with stops to limit its Yforward rotation, a pole frame pivoted to said rotatable -member, a cross piece carried by the said pole frame, two spring` controlled leverspivoted to the rocking trame and slidably mounted in the eyes of the said cross piece, two draw bars pivotally connected to the pole tra-me and slidably mounted in'integral bearings of said rocking frame, means for the automatic release of the pole and pole trame from the influence of the guide rod spring, to allow the pole to descend beneath the overhead wire system 4after the trolley 'wheel has left the trolley wire, meansfor preventing the pole from vibrating, and means for conveniently re-setting the rocking frame to bring the pole and its trolley wheel ag'ain under the influence of the guide rod spring.

2. ln a trolley pole safety appliance for electric trams and the like, an oscillating pole frame connected. to a rocking frame insecto comprising a bridge piece having abutments to limit its movement, a connecting rod pivoted to the trolley trame and having pivotal connection with the sleeve, a pair of arms formed integral with thev pole frame and adapted to support a cross piece, a pair of levers pivoted to the rotatable member and extending through the cross piece, each of said levers being provided with abutments and springs, a latch member arranged to cooperate with the cross piece to prevent vibration of the parts, and an adjustable member arranged to trip thel latch member.

Ll. A safety appliance for electric trams and the like comprising in combination, a base, an upright rotatable member supported thereon, an integral socket piece secured to the rotatable member, a` trolley frame, a guide rod projecting from the socket piece and provided with a coiled spring and a sleeve, a rotatable member pivoted on said sleeve comprising` a bridge piece having abutments to limit its movement, a connecting rod pivotedto the trolley trame and having pivotal connection with the sleeve, a pair of arms formed integral with the pole frame and adapted to support a cross piece, a pair of levers pivoted to the rotatable member and extending through the cross piece, each of said levers being provided with abutments and springs, a latch member arranged to co-operatewith the cross piece to prevent vibration of the parts, and an adjustable member arranged. to trip the latch member.

5. A. safety appliance for electric trams and the like comprising in combination, a base, an upright rotatable member supported thereon, an integral socket piece secured to the rotatable member, a trolley frame, a guide rod projecting from the socket piece and provided with a coiled spring and a sleeve the front or the guide rod being threaded and provided with a nut, a rotatable member pivoted on said sleeve comprising a bridge piece having abutments to limit its movement, a connecting rod pivoted to the trolley trame and having pivotal connection with the sleeve, a pair of arms adapted to support a cross piece, a pair of levers pivoted to the rotatable member and extending through the cross piece, each of said levers and provided with a coiled spring and a sleeve7 `a rotatable member pivoted on said sleeve, a connecting rod pivoted to the *trolley trame and having pivotal connection withlthe sleeve, a v'pair of arms adaptedv to support a cross piece, a'pair of levers pivoted to the rotatable member and extending through the cross piece, each of said levers .being provided with abutments and springs,

a latch member arranged to co-operate with the cross piece to prevent vibration oi the parts, Aand an adjustable member arranged to trip theflatch member.

7. A safety appliance for electric trams and the like comprising in combination, a base, an upright rotatable member supported thereoman integral socket piece secured to 'the' rotatable member, a trolley frame, a guide rod projecting from the socket piece and provided with a coiled spring and a sleeve, the front oi'the guide rod being threaded and provided with a nut` a rotatable member `pivoted on said sleeve comprising a bridge `piece having abutments to limit its movement,va connecting rod pivoted to the trolley frame and having pivotal connection` with the sleeve, a pair oarms formed yintegral withr the ,pole frame and adaptedto support a cross piece, and a pair of levers pivoted to the rotatable member and extending through the cross piece, each of said levers being provided with abutments and springs.

8. A safety appliance for electric trams and the like comprising in combination, a base, an upright rotatable member supported thereon, an integral socket piece secured to the rotatable member, a trolley frame, a guide rod projecting from the socket piece and provided with a coiled spring and a sleeve, a rotatable member pivoted on said sleeve, a connecting rod pivoted to the trolley frame and having pivotal connection with the sleeve, a pair of arms formed integral with the pole ira-me and adapted to support a cross piece, and a pair of levers pivoted to the rotatable member and extending through the cross piece, each of said levers being provided with abutments and springs.

9. A trolley pole safety appliance comprising an oscillating frame supporting a -trolley pole with a trolley wheel mounted on its upper end and provided with two upper aus?,

apertured integral armswhich areadaipted to receive'and support a cross piece, a rockvlng 'trame carrying two spring controlled levers, the upper ends oi' which are's'lidably mounted in the eyes of said crosspiece,y a T shaped arm pivotally mounted on said cross piece and provided with a :notched under j surface and an integral depending plate to provide a stop, a transversely mounted bridging strap rigidly secured to said levers and adapted to be engaged by the notched end oi the said T shaped arm aiter the trolley wheel has left its wire and the pole 'frame pivots rearwardly, said stop being adapted to fdisengage itself irom thebridging strap when thepole has been pulled down to a horizontal position to latch vthe rocking frame andthe pole frameis allowed to pivot i'orwardly.v I

'10. A trolley pole safety appliance com- .l

prising a rotatable member adapted to piv! v ot-ally support an oscillating pole frame and provided with a front integral socket piece for the yreception ofl a horizontally projecting guide rod, an upper bearing cast integral with said socket piece, va slotted L plate formed with a rear upstanding tace and adjustably secured in position by a set screw, and inner'transverse bearings of said rotatable member to support a .cross spindle which carries the said oscillating pole frame'. '11. A ltrolley pole sagtety lappliance for electric trams andthe like comprising a` lpivot on-said set screws, and two-'side hollow lugs cast integral with the 'rocking "frame arms, and adapted to take threaded pins for the reception of the front eyes of twospring controlledilevers, which, when the trolley wheel leaves its wire, are thrust downwardly and impart a rearwardrotary movement to the rocking frame.

12; A. trolley pole safety appliance oomprising a spring controlled trolleyconnected to a rocking frame by two levers, a pair of draw bars, a coiled spring, and a slidable sleeve, said rocking frame being adapted to release itself from the action of said spring when they trolley wheel leaves the trolley wire.`

13. A trolley pole safety appliance for electric trams and the like comprising a;

@a ineens() rocking frame, a pair of spring controlled levers for connecting said pole frame tosaid rocking frame, each lever having a sleeve and a tubular casing' positioned thereon, said casing being'held in position by a rear nut, a coiled spring on each of said sleeves, a bridge strap rigidly connected to said levers, and a cross piece supported by said pole frame having eyes to slidably receive the npper portions of said levers.

15. A trolley pole safety appliance for electric trams and the like comprisinga rotatable member having an integral socket piece to support a guide rod, integral bearings to support a transverse spindle,` an os` cillating pole frame adapted to oscillate with said spindle, intrgi'al bearings formed on the side cheeks of said'pole frame and adapted to receive the ends of two draw bars, and a rocking frame adapted to slidably receive the lirontr ends of said draw bars.

16. A trolley polesafety appliance for electric trams comprising an oscillating pole frame connected to a pivoted rocking trame by spring controlled levers and draw bars and wherein the pivoting points o: the rocking fran/levare above the axis of the rocking frame bearings which slidably receive the front ends of the draw bars and so prevent the accidental rotation of said rocking frame.

11A trolley pole safety appliance for elect-ric trams and the like comprising a sleeve slidably mounted on a guide rod carried by a rotatable member, means for re' ciprocating said sleeve to compres-s its spring and reset the rocking frame, permitting said spring to recoil and force said sleeve towards the end of said guide rod.

18. A trolley pole safety appliance Acomprising a pivoted pole frame carrying the lower end of a trolley pole and connected to a pivoted rocking frame through the medium ci' a coiled spring, slidable draw bars, and spring controlled levers substantially as described. n

19. A trolley pole safety appliance :t'or electric trams and the like comprising an oscillating pole frame connected to a rocking frame by two spring controlled levers and draw bars, and means for compressing a recoiling spring to reset said rocking iframe when the pole frame is swung rearwardly and the pole brought to a horizontal position.

20. A trolley pole safety appliance comprising a guide rod carrying a coiled spring and a slidably mounted sleeve which pivotally supports a rocking frame, said spring adapted to expand and torce the sleeve forwardly on said guiderod, and to` allow the rocking frame to be rotated rearwardly and be freed from the influence of said coiled spring after the trolley wheel has become disengaged 'from the trolley wire.

21. A trolley pole safety appliance for electric trams, comprising an oscillating pole frame connected to a pivoted rocking frame by a spring-controlled lever and draw bar, and wherein the pivoting points of the rocking frame are above the axis of the rocking iframe bearing which receives the end oit the draw bar.

In testimony whereof ll have signed my name to this speciication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PERCY MARKHAM DE CGURCY IRELAND. lvVitness'es LESLIE LAWTON BEAR. 

